The Office-Politics Advisers:
|
"Minus One for the Team"
My husband is an extraordinarily hard worker, a devoted and loyal employee, as well as husband and father. Here is the situation: He works in a department that consists of people quite the opposite of him...personally. They tend to go out after work for drinks. We have three children and he is not interested in spending his time this way. They all hunt, while he does not. They like heavy metal radio stations, while he likes NPR. They create "offsite meetings" at which they play computer games during work hours, and he truthfully would rather work. He is torn because he obviously doesn't want to jeopardize his job by appearing either anti-social or anti-team. Is he obligated to participate in these extracurricular activities? What impact could his not participating have on his professional life? In the last round of promotions, all but he and another employee were promoted. He did receive an excellent review, but no promotion. Do you think these things could have indirectly affected him?? Concerned Wife
Dear Concerned Wife, A workplace should
be able to accommodate differences, but it often helps a team function
better if employees are able to socialize together to at least a limited
degree. I certainly can't imagine, however, that your husband's employer
would be upset that he is not joining his co-workers in playing computer
games when he is supposed to be working.
Send your comments
about this article to: ceo AT officepolitics DOT com
|
